The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 8:41b,
"'We are not illegitimate children,' they [unbelieving Jews] protested. 'The only Father we have is God himself.'"
Jesus pointed out to these unbelieving Jews that their father was the devil, verse 44, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires." Jesus points out that those who do not belong to him belong to the devil. Two camps, and only two camps. We carry out God's desires or the devil's desires.
However, this brood thought they were God's children, that God was their father. They were utterly deceived in their thinking and their perception of things. Very religious, with the Scriptures in hand, they served the devil and carried out the devil's desires.
I believe there are a lot of people today that live their lives in a similar deceit, no doubt as convinced as these Jews were that they have God as their father when they only carry out the devil's purposes.
I am reminded of Jesus' words, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:21-23.
The remedy for this is to ensure we are in fact following God and not the devil. Apparently many cannot tell the difference. I highly recommend Paul's exhortation, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"'We are not illegitimate children,' they [unbelieving Jews] protested. 'The only Father we have is God himself.'"
Jesus pointed out to these unbelieving Jews that their father was the devil, verse 44, "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires." Jesus points out that those who do not belong to him belong to the devil. Two camps, and only two camps. We carry out God's desires or the devil's desires.
However, this brood thought they were God's children, that God was their father. They were utterly deceived in their thinking and their perception of things. Very religious, with the Scriptures in hand, they served the devil and carried out the devil's desires.
I believe there are a lot of people today that live their lives in a similar deceit, no doubt as convinced as these Jews were that they have God as their father when they only carry out the devil's purposes.
I am reminded of Jesus' words, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:21-23.
The remedy for this is to ensure we are in fact following God and not the devil. Apparently many cannot tell the difference. I highly recommend Paul's exhortation, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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